Hector Bellerin is reportedly on the cusp of ending his Barcelona misery by joining Sporting CP for the rest of the season.
According to reputed English journalist David Ornstein, Hector Bellerin is closing in on joining Sporting CP. The Portuguese giants are on the verge of agreeing to a loan deal for the remainder of the season. And the Barcelona defender’s transfer will go through once Pedro Porro joins Tottenham.
Hector Bellerin has endured a nightmare of a stint since joining Barcelona from Arsenal on a free transfer. The Spaniard was only a fallback option for Barcelona after they failed to sign other top targets. And that has been evident this season, as he has barely featured for the Blaugrana.
Xavi Hernandez has preferred to use centre-backs as makeshift right-backs. Even Alejandro Balde, a left-back, has started on the right side of the Barcelona defence. Bellerin has thus managed only 494 minutes of game time across seven appearances. And a January departure from Spotify Camp Nou might be on the cards.
Several clubs have been interested in signing Bellerin from Barcelona in the ongoing transfer window. But the 27-year-old has been reluctant to leave the Catalan outfit midway through the season. However, the emergence of Sporting CP in the race to sign the former Arsenal defender has changed matters.
🚨 EXCL: Sporting Lisbon close to agreeing deal to sign Hector Bellerin on loan from Barcelona. If it gets done, 27yo’s arrival would give #SportingCP replacement for right wing-back Pedro Porro, who Tottenham hope to sign @TheAthleticFC #THFC #FCBarcelona https://t.co/GZs8fOY5Jh pic.twitter.com/C8sDsV1zvP
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 29, 2023
The Portuguese giants did not intend to dip their toes in the market for a right-back heading into the January transfer window. But Pedro Porro’s impending move to Tottenham Hotspur has changed the equation. That is because the Spaniard will leave a gaping hole in the right-back unit for Ruben Amorim.
Bellerin has thus emerged as a viable target for Sporting CP. And according to David Ornstein, the Green and Whites are closing in on an agreement. But the reputed journalist has interestingly claimed that Sporting will sign the Barcelona defender on loan for the remainder of the season.
Ornstein’s suggestion is intriguing, considering Bellerin’s Barcelona contract expires in the summer. So unless the Catalan giants hand the 27-year-old an extension, a loan deal does not make sense. But it will be interesting to see if a loan move to Portugal sees the light of day for the Barcelona defender.
